Agroforestry systems: A sustainable approach to land use rural development

Agroforestry is a method of managing land usage that includes crops, livestock, and trees and shrubs on the same piece of land. There are several ecological, financial, and societal advantages to this strategy, which replicates natural ecosystems. Reducing erosion, increasing soil fertility, improving biodiversity, and sequestering carbon help mitigate climate change and promote sustainable agriculture. Agroforestry has significant advantages for the environment, but it also helps to improve rural livelihoods by enhancing food security and diversifying sources of income, especially in developing nations. This review aims to critically analyze how agroforestry systems serve to advance rural development and sustainable land use. The purpose of this research is to review the literature to emphasize the ecological roles, socioeconomic effects, adoption barriers, and policy frameworks related to agroforestry, focusing on how it might help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Agroforestry enhances environmental sustainability through biodiversity improvement, water regulation, and soil protection. It contributes to food and nutritional security by offering a variety of revenue sources (such as fruit, timber, fodder, and medicinal plants), hence diversifying rural livelihoods. In addition to increasing climatic resilience, agroforestry helps mitigate climate change by sequestering large amounts of carbon. Agroforestry systems have several advantages, but a lack of market access, legislative gaps, land ownership concerns, and low awareness hampers their implementation. Supportive policies, institutional structures, and farmer-centered extension services are necessary to scale the adoption of agroforestry.